Radiogirl

American English Minute: you're good (Radiogirl)

margaret@radiogirl.us (Margaret Larkin) — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 11:48:00 -0500

https://www.radiogirl.us/audio/AEM2.mp3

In my new short segment called American English Minute, I talk about a common phrase you'll hear here: you're good. I'm doing this feature periodically, based on the English I hear in Chicago.

Click to play the minute https://www.radiogirl.us/audio/AEM2.mp3

Jay Zawaski: Hawks talent

margaret@radiogirl.us (Margaret Larkin) — Fri, 6 Mar 2026 09:55:00 -0600

Jay Zawaski is living the dream: he worked for The Score/WSCR and was so successful with his Blackhawks podcast, CHGO Sports asked him to join. Now he's doing everything Hawks on the network and also co-hosts the I'm Fat Podcast. He talks about working at The Score, going digital, podcasting, success, authenticity, sports media, and more.

This is from a livestream that we did.

Click this link to play the interview - http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG207.mp3

Radiogirl: American English Minute - No problem

margaret@radiogirl.us (Margaret Larkin) — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 11:29:00 -0600

https://www.radiogirl.us/audio/AEM1.mp3

This is a new short segment called American English Minute. It’s the English I notice around me in Chicago. Shout-out to Charlie Meyerson, who I worked with [with whom I worked], and who is a stickler for language.

Click to play the minute https://www.radiogirl.us/audio/AEM1.mp3

Steve Scott: now in San Francisco

margaret@radiogirl.us (Margaret Larkin) — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:50:00 -0600

I've interviewed Steve Scott twice: talking about WLS and when he was at WCBS. When WCBS ceased to exist, Steve got a job at KCBS, where he anchors news. He is also the PA announcer for the Golden State Warriors in his home state of California. He talks about WCBS pulling the plug, what San Francisco is like, crime stories, his alma mater town San Jose, news reporting, NBA announcing, and more.

This is from a livestream that we did.

Click this link to play the interview - http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG206.mp3

Listen to the previous interview from 2020 when he just got his college degree, and the first interview from 2012 when he talked about WLS, WCBS, and announcing for the Bulls and Knicks.

George Ofman: ten years later!

margaret@radiogirl.us (Margaret Larkin) — Sun, 1 Feb 2026 09:34:00 -0600

I interviewed sportscaster George Ofman with Dave Kerner at WBBM Newsradio ten years ago and wanted to get an update because he's written a book, Tell Me a Story I Don't Know, based on his popular podcast series, and now has a new career. He talks about writing for radio, storytelling with sound, his long radio broadcasting career at The Score/WSCR, WMAQ, WGN, WBBM Newsradio, NPR, the BBC, and in Canada at the CBC and CJCL. He's had a lot of success for several years and even got an awesome job at Midtown Athletics: that's the story he wants to tell.

This is from a livestream that we did.

Click this link to play the interview - http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG205.mp3

Craig Dellimore: class act

margaret@radiogirl.us (Margaret Larkin) — Fri, 9 Jan 2026 14:51:00 -0600

Craig Dellimore spent more than 40 years at WBBM Newsradio, and the last time I interviewed him was in 2018 at City Hall (you can listen to that interview here, direct audio link at http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG156.mp3). In this update after his retirement, he talks about his experience in Chicago as an anchor/reporter, managing editor, legislative correspondent, suburban reporter, and political editor. He also talks about how he got into journalism in his hometown, New York, through a program at Columbia University, where he went to j-school, before working at WNYC and WCBS in New York, then the Associated Press in Washington, D.C. He got "the call" and came to Chicago, where he still lives. He is one of the most decent, talented, kindest people in the news biz!

This is from a livestream that we did.

Click this link to play the interview - http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG204.mp3

Justin Kaufmann: Axios Chicago and radio

margaret@radiogirl.us (Margaret Larkin) — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 21:35:00 -0600

Listen at http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG203.mp3

I'd never met Justin Kaufmann before, but he quickly responded to my interview request and was very friendly and smart in this interview. He talks about a lot: why news stories are like radio shows; producing and being on the air at WBEZ; working with producers; working during the pandemic and broadcasting alone; radio challenges; building subscribers; user-generated content vs journalistic context; how comedy helped him for broadcasting; his show "Schadenfreude," which led to Hollywood; challenges of processing information and being timely; Chicago crime and audience response; getting on the air and advice; why producers should focus on supporting the host; communicating with listeners; dealing with pressure and setbacks; newsletters and online relationships; public radio vs commercial radio; WGN and format changes; social media stories; why daily content helps get more exposure; doing Reset on WBEZ and Extension 720 at WGN (reboot); dealing with setbacks; how he got into news; why Axios is great; the writing process; improv and preparation; journalistic discipline; and more.

This is from a livestream that we did.

Click this link to play the interview - http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG203.mp3

Tom Shaer: Legendary Sportscaster

margaret@radiogirl.us (Margaret Larkin) — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 18:20:00 -0600

Tom Shaer is part of Chicago radio history. He was one of the first broadcasters hired at The Score, WSCR. He starts talking about Rich King and a Crain’s Chicago Business article 1982; why ego is important; being and having an agent: wins, lies, challenges, advice; how the biz has changed; treatment of Mark Giangreco; sports staff issues; working in news and sports; the importance of working in different media; writing and editing; going from sports to news; pre-Internet show prep; Larry Bird and access to athletes; going from TV to radio; working at NBC 5 TV, WBBM Newsradio, and The Score WSCR; doing sports talk in the early days; issues in sports media; why The Score did well; broadcasting and adjusting to Chicago; sportscasters reporting news; being square and the drama at The Score; Mike Ditka, Jack Brickhouse, and Harry Caray; why The Score is a good station with past mistakes; how he got into the media; and he talks about several people, including Ron Gleason, Mike North, Rick Gieser, Dan McNeil, Dan Jiggetts, Drew Hayes and Michael Damsky, Chet Coppock, Howard Cosell, Jerry Reinsdorf, Mitch Rosen, Ron Magers and Carol Marin, and more (let me know who else I should list).

This is from a livestream that we did.

Click this link to play the interview - http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG202.mp3

Stefan Holt - TV news anchor

margaret@radiogirl.us (Margaret Larkin) — Sat, 16 Aug 2025 12:34:00 -0500

Stefan Holt is from Chicago and started at NBC 5 Chicago in 2011. He talks about reporting, anchoring, and working in Florida and at WNBC in New York; why reporting is challenging; what he learned from his dad, Lester Holt, when he was growing up and visited CBS 2 Chicago/WBBM-TV; why he likes working in Chicago; how his bosses and his dad helped his growth and on-the-job training; the importance of journalism and local news; working at a national vs local level; the Today Show, radio news, advice, and his love of flying: he is an instrument-rated private pilot.

This is from a livestream that we did.

Click this link to play the interview - http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG201.mp3

Joe Donlon - Living the Dream at CBS Chicago

margaret@radiogirl.us (Margaret Larkin) — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 23:10:00 -0500

Listen at http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG200.mp3

Joe Donlon is an anchor at CBS News Chicago. He was on the air at WGN-TV and NewsNation in Chicago, and was at KGW-TV in Oregon for several years before coming to Chicago. He talks about why he loves Chicago and feels relaxed; how he's been living the dream; how he got to WGN-TV from Oregon; having fun at work; the journalism profession including: demo reels, challenges in the business, prepping for a newscast and speaking spontaneously, how to be effective on the air, working in national news vs local, why writing is important, how experience helps develop your skills, editing audio and video, advice for structuring a story, reporting and anchoring, changing technology and advice, interviewing and reporting, and working in cable news. He also talks about his Chicago Unscripted podcast, dealing with criticism, why ambition is important, and more.

This is from a livestream that we did.

Click this link to play the interview - http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG200.mp3

Molly Jirasek - advice from a TV News Director

margaret@radiogirl.us (Margaret Larkin) — Sun, 27 Apr 2025 18:28:00 -0500

I interviewed Molly Jirasek at the Illinois News Broadcasters Association convention six years ago, when she was Assistant News Director at Heart of Illinois ABC in Peoria. Now she is News Director at ABC57-TV in South Bend, Indiana. Molly explains what she looks for in a journalism professional, and gives advice on topics that include: appearance, demo reels, reporting, applying for jobs, important skills for working in TV news, attitude, what to look for in a school to get experience, multimedia journalism, how she runs a newsroom, and more.

This is from a livestream that we did.

Click this link to play the interview - http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG199.mp3

And click this link for the previous INBA interview.

Molly is hiring, btw.

Jerry Agar: 14 years later!

margaret@radiogirl.us (Margaret Larkin) — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:11:00 -0600

http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG198.mp3

Jerry Agar has been on the air since October, 1973. I interviewed him in 2010 when he was starting at Newstalk 1010 CFRB in Toronto. He went back to Canada after spending 25 years in the U.S. (he's originally from Canada), and is still at Newstalk 1010. He talks about a lot in this update: what he thinks of the radio industry and talk radio; why he switched from music radio to talk; his experience including WGN and WLS in Chicago, and smaller markets throughout the country; Kevin Metheny and his father, Terrell Metheny; his struggles, advice, the importance of being authentic, and a lot more. This is from a livestream that we did.

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac).

http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG198.mp3

Ron Gleason: The Score, WBBM, Sports

margaret@radiogirl.us (Margaret Larkin) — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 23:48:00 -0500

Listen at http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG197.mp3

Ron Gleason worked in sports for many years before switching to news at WBBM Newsradio. He talks about Sports Phone, doing play-by-play, sportscasting, being the boss at WSCR The Score, Mike North and Dan Jiggetts, radio before and during the Internet, how radio can be effective and entertaining, being management vs on the air, starting his radio career in his home state of California, doing sports in Joliet at WJOL, the end of WMAQ news station in Chicago and WCBS in New York, revenue declines, talented broadcasters, going from The Score to WBBM as an anchor then boss, his workflow, advice for getting a job, how sports helps news, how the radio biz has changed, and much more! This is probably the most extensive interview that Ron has ever done and is from a livestream that we did.

"I loved it and I just I knew radio was all I ever wanted to do."

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac).

Listen at http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG197.mp3

Watch the Radiogirl livestreams and videos on the Radiogirl FB page and on YouTube.

If you like what I'm doing, Buy Me a Coffee...thanks!

Rafer Weigel: getting personal

margaret@radiogirl.us (Margaret Larkin) — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 12:33:00 -0500

I first interviewed Rafer Weigel 11 years ago when he was at WLS-TV in Chicago. When I did this livestream with him, he was at KUSI-TV in San Diego. Now he's Chief Communications Officer at VetComm, so but I want to post this anyway because Rafer talked a lot not just about his professional experience, but his personal struggles as well, which is pretty rare in the few-hundred interviews I've done so far. He also shares his opinions about the media biz and news broadcasting. Topics covered: acting, his famous sportscaster dad Tim Weigel, sports broadcasting, breaking the Jussie Smollett story and losing his job, mistakes he's made, mental health, pressure and competition, advice for working in the biz, and much more. This is one of the longest podcasts I've done; it was first posted at the INBA website.

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac).

http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG196.mp3

Watch the Radiogirl livestreams and videos on the Radiogirl FB page and on YouTube.

If you like what I'm doing, Buy Me a Coffee...thanks!

InternetFM after more than a decade: Steve Leventhal and Eric Leventhal

margaret@radiogirl.us (Margaret Larkin) — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 15:03:00 -0600

A musical discussion: Steve Leventhal, creator of InternetFM, and his son and cofounder Eric Leventhal, talk about their music and broadcasting experience, what is top-shelf radio, paying for songs, why vinyl is popular with some younger music fans, commercials, changing technology and music delivery, how they define oldies, the resurgence of psychedelic music, concerts, rock’s waning popularity, the role of the Internet for radio, the future of music radio, and more. The last time I interviewed Steve was more than 10 years ago.

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac).

http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG195.mp3

Watch the Radiogirl livestreams and videos at the Radiogirl FB page and on YouTube (also live-streaming on Radiogirl Twitter, Metrolingua Twitter, and my own Fakebook page).

If you like what I'm doing, Buy Me a Coffee...thanks!

Word Balloon's John Siuntres: longest podcast!

margaret@radiogirl.us (Margaret Larkin) — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 16:06:00 -0500

John Siuntres (host and creator of the popular Word Balloon livestream and podcast and I often talk on the phone for at least an hour, so we decided to do a livestream conversation, and it ended up being much longer! Topics covered: how entertainment and the media have changed, the WGA and SAG/AFTRA strikes, creativity and syndication in TV and radio, innovation, digital access and viewpoints, media and cultural nostalgia, podcasting and the radio biz, Instagram and influencers, Gen X, nerd culture, Hollywood and media pay, streaming vs broadcasting, Chicago and national radio, live and recorded broadcasting, job opportunities, working in radio, TV shows and movies, popular music, British vs American actors, vocal fry and people's voices, beauty, and more!

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac).

http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG194.mp3

Watch the Radiogirl livestreams and videos at the Radiogirl FB page and on YouTube (also live-streaming on Radiogirl Twitter, Metrolingua Twitter, and my own Fakebook page).

If you like what I'm doing, Buy Me a Coffee...thanks!

Ravi Baichwal: from Canada to Chicago

margaret@radiogirl.us (Margaret Larkin) — Mon, 5 Jun 2023 17:41:00 -0500

Ravi Baichwal is an anchor at ABC 7 Chicago and talks about his hockey documentary Summit 72; his hometown Toronto and Canadian culture; his radio career at CKNW in Vancouver before he went to CTV National News, then doing CTV and being on the air at CFRB radio in Toronto (where I previously interviewed Jerry Agar and John Moore); filling in at WLS Radio; why he thinks radio is fun and important; doing TV vs radio; his accent; corruption; why fair pay is important; how he got into media; advice for getting into TV news; challenges he faced; why TV news is still important; diversity; perseverance; what makes a good anchor; elements of a story; what is integrity; why he likes working in Chicago; why he loves radio, and much more!

This is from a livestream that we did; watch the full interview here. But there is also extra content that wasn't in the livestream about his radio career (done in a separate follow-up interview specially for the Radiogirl podcast).

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac).

http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG193.mp3

Note: this is the video he didn’t want me to play during the interview: a van crashed into the ABC 7 studio while he was on the air (back in 2007, just one year after he started anchoring there).

Watch the Radiogirl livestreams and videos at the Radiogirl FB page and on YouTube (also live-streaming on Radiogirl Twitter, Metrolingua Twitter, and my own Fakebook page).

If you like what I'm doing, Buy Me a Coffee...thanks!

Justin Roman: media master, from music to radio to TV!

margaret@radiogirl.us (Margaret Larkin) — Thu, 6 Apr 2023 18:58:00 -0500

Justin Roman has done a lot during the 21st century: he hosts The MVP Game (sign up there to be a guest on the show) with Kenzie K (who was his fiancée when this was recorded); it's a super-fan Cubs game show (and a couple of Bears shows during the off season) on the Marquee Sports Network. He talks about his media and performing career, which includes the Vi3 boy band and their hit Eyes Closed so Tight before he started at B96 in 2004; producing music with the Jump Smokers and DJ Flipside (who also does the music for The MVP Game) and their popular remix My Flow So Tight. Roman explains how he got on the air at B96 when he was a super-fan, doing nights and afternoons for several years with Stylz then mornings at US99 in 2016 until they had to leave (get the full story in episode 2 of The Stylz & Roman Uncensored Podcast); being the entertainment host at the Chicago Bulls games; famous people he's met and toured with; why he likes Pitbull; success and failure; appearing with Kenzie K on the Windy City Live TV show and ABC 7, why he and Stylz did their podcast for only a year, why he's positive, and more.

This is from a livestream that we did; watch the full interview here.

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac).

http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG192.mp3

Watch the Radiogirl livestreams and videos at the Radiogirl FB page and on YouTube (also live-streaming on Radiogirl Twitter, Metrolingua Twitter, and my own Fakebook page).

If you like what I'm doing, Buy Me a Coffee...thanks!

Doug Cummings: Escaping the O-Zone

margaret@radiogirl.us (Margaret Larkin) — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 10:12:00 -0600

Doug Cummings is a resident of Highland Park, where the shooting tragedy happened on July 4th at the Independence Day parade. He wrote the personal safety handbook, Escaping the O-Zone, to help people take steps to keep themselves safe and preventing becoming a victim. All proceeds go to the Highland Park Community Foundation.

He talks about his reporting career, which started in Kansas at WIBW; why starting at a small station is helpful for a media career and education; working in Kansas City at KCMO; graduating from the Public Affairs Reporting Program at University of Illinois/Springfield; doing legislative reporting for WTMX in Chicago, then street reporting at WMAQ and WGN; talking to victims of fires, crime, shootings, family murders and how they wanted control back; being the director of security at a church; the Highland Park shooting, which was “absolute devastation”; security consulting; why he got back into the media and why he liked reporting; approaching victims after a tragedy; reporters' PTSD and why they should get help if they report on serious stories; why he left the media to go into security, the risks of owning a gun, and more.

Listen to the first interview I did with Doug 10 years ago here.

This is from a livestream that we did; watch the full interview here.

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac).

http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG191.mp3

Watch the Radiogirl livestreams and videos at the Radiogirl FB page and on YouTube (also live-streaming on Radiogirl Twitter, Metrolingua Twitter, and my own Fakebook page).

If you like what I'm doing, Buy Me a Coffee...thanks!

Karen Schaler: from war correspondent to screenwriter and novelist

margaret@radiogirl.us (Margaret Larkin) — Fri, 3 Feb 2023 11:28:00 -0600

Karen Schaler was a journalist and crime reporter who is best known for the Netflix hit "A Christmas Prince." She talks about how her journalism experience led to Hollywood success; how she got into the TV biz at a station in Billings, Montana, then worked at a number of stations: in Twin Falls, Idaho, in South Dakota, at KSTP-TV in Alexandria, Minnesota, and at KSL-TV, where she was the first female crime reporter in Salt Lake City, Utah. She also worked in Texas, Arizona, and California, and was a weekend anchor at NBC in Boston, Massachusetts, in addition to briefly reporting from the White House in Washington, D.C.

She talks about why she left TV news and why she writes about Christmas; crime in small towns; how her stories got on CNN; how she pitches stories; how she processed all the negative stories she covered; her first feature "Christmas Camp,"; working every Christmas when she was a news anchor and reporter; reporting in Afghanistan; how she became a writer for Fox News in New York; how she got her own travel show "Travel Therapy" based on her book; how she got published; her "Travel Now" show on ABC News and travel features on PIX11 in New York and Good Morning America Weekend, Live with Kelly, and Rachel Ray; writing her Audible Original "Once Upon a Christmas Carol" and how she went from writing screenplays to her audio drama, how the pandemic affected her work, and a lot more!

This is from a livestream that we did; watch the full interview here.

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac).

http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG190.mp3

Watch the Radiogirl livestreams and videos at the Radiogirl FB page and on YouTube (also live-streaming on Radiogirl Twitter, Metrolingua Twitter, and my own Fakebook page).

If you like what I'm doing, Buy Me a Coffee...thanks!

Kathy Hart: Hall of Famer on the most popular morning show in Chicago

margaret@radiogirl.us (Margaret Larkin) — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 21:58:00 -0600

For two decades, Kathy Hart was part of the most popular morning show in Chicago, on 101.9 WTMX The Mix. She talks about how she went from being an intern to getting on the air in Rockford at WKKN and WYFE, then driving the station van at WZOK and WROK; how she was different from the "pukers" and wanted to be authentic on the air; how her radio experience changed with the Internet and texts; advice, celebrities she met, and falling asleep in Milwaukee; having a show with Brian Pecht at G105 in Raleigh, North Carolina and their fun in Jamaica; being on the air in Arizona at KZZP/KVRY then co-hosting an afternoon show at KDKB, where she also did sports reporting and interviewed Charles Barkley when he was starting out with the Phoenix Suns; how doing the Morning Zoo in Columbus, Ohio was challenging; how she ended up with a morning partner on The Mix; staying authentic, her new site Gritology.com, her faith, forgiveness, healing, love, and more. This is from a livestream that we did; watch the full interview here.

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac).

http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG189.mp3

Watch the Radiogirl livestreams and videos at the Radiogirl FB page and on YouTube (also live-streaming on Radiogirl Twitter, Metrolingua Twitter, and my own Fakebook page).

If you like what I'm doing, Buy Me a Coffee...thanks!

Hannah B: having a blast in radio!

margaret@radiogirl.us (Margaret Larkin) — Sun, 4 Dec 2022 22:45:00 -0600

Hannah Brummer is on the air every morning with Eddie Volkman on Star 96.7. She talks about her radio career, which includes hosting afternoons on 103 WXLC, and working in promotions at US 99, 104.3 Jams, WLS, and Q101. She talks about how she got into radio, why she loves radio, what auditions are like, show prep, why she's so grateful, her podcast Monday Motivation with Hannah B, her home studio, her supportive family, what she learned from being an athlete, how to stay positive, and more. This is from a livestream that we did; watch the full interview here.

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac).

http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG188.mp3

Watch the Radiogirl livestreams and videos at the Radiogirl FB page and on YouTube (also live-streaming on Radiogirl Twitter, Metrolingua Twitter, and my own Fakebook page).

If you like what I'm doing, Buy Me a Coffee...thanks!

Vicki Quade: Late Nite Catechism, Bob Collins, theater, writing, and more

margaret@radiogirl.us (Margaret Larkin) — Sat, 12 Nov 2022 18:50:00 -0600

Vicki Quade is best known for her popular show, Late Nite Catechism, and she talks about how she came up with the idea for that show; her journalism career, which included the News-Tribune newspaper in La Salle and the Waukegan News-Sun; her books Close Encounters of a Chicago Kind and I Remember Bob Collins; the decline of newspapers and how the Internet affected journalism and theater; why talking to people is important; why one-woman shows were more popular in the 90s; advice for pursuing your dream; her business and what is success, how nuns helped, and more. This is from a livestream that we did; watch the full interview here.

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac).

http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG187.mp3

Watch the Radiogirl livestreams and videos at the Radiogirl FB page and on YouTube (also live-streaming on Radiogirl Twitter, Metrolingua Twitter, and my own Fakebook page).

If you like what I'm doing, Buy Me a Coffee...thanks!

John Drummond: LEGENDARY reporter

margaret@radiogirl.us (Margaret Larkin) — Wed, 2 Nov 2022 00:18:00 -0500

John "Bulldog" Drummond has had a long career and is best known for being a world-class reporter covering breaking news, corruption, and, most notably, the Chicago Outfit. He grew up in Wisconsin and worked in Des Moines, Iowa before coming to Chicago to cover the Illinois legislature for WIND Radio. He worked at WREX-TV, then joined CBS-TV in the late 1960s. His career started in the late 1950s in Iowa at KBIZ and KXEL radio, and he worked at WHO. He remembers when the television medium, aka "The Magic Lantern," was established, and he talks about a lot: why Chicago was exciting to cover, the Machine, the Chicago syndicate, organized crime, Mayor Daley and why he liked reporting during the Daley Era, getting into Sam Giancana's house, how he developed his sources, covering sports and meeting Vince Lombardi, and lots more. No other reporter has so many stories to tell. He was even in the opening scene of The Fugitive!

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac).

http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG186.mp3

Watch the Radiogirl livestreams and videos at the Radiogirl FB page and on YouTube (also live-streaming on Radiogirl Twitter, Metrolingua Twitter, and my own Fakebook page).

If you like what I'm doing, Buy Me a Coffee...thanks!

Brian Pecht: music radio fun, payola, success

margaret@radiogirl.us (Margaret Larkin) — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 23:03:00 -0500

Brian Pecht has been a jock and programmer at music radio stations for several years, and he hosts the very popular The Catholic Word Podcast. He talks about why he enjoys doing traffic at WBBM Newsradio; his on-air work at WLS-FM; payola in the music radio business; office politics; being on the air and Program Director (the youngest in the country) in Detroit at WCZY Z95.5 (where radio legend Dick Purtan had a successful show); how the 1996 Telecommunications Act changed the radio business and how the market shrank; how he got into radio and TV in Virginia with Bill Bowman's "The Bowman Body;" working in Richmond, Virginia then Columbus, Ohio at Sunny 95; working in North Carolina at KZL with Big Steve Kelly; how radio made hits; how he helped Billy Idol; advice for working in the media; celebrities and music superstars he's met; developing talent and advice for what makes a good aircheck; being one of the founding air talents at Q101 WKQX Alternative; getting fired yet having lots of success in music radio; where he burned a bridge; how fun radio has been, and more! He's also been on the air at other major Chicago stations including WSHE, WILV, and WTMX. This is from a livestream that we did; watch the full interview here (over two hours).

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac).

http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG185.mp3

Watch the Radiogirl livestreams and videos at the Radiogirl FB page and on YouTube (also live-streaming on Radiogirl Twitter, Metrolingua Twitter, and my own Fakebook page).

If you like what I'm doing, Buy Me a Coffee...thanks!